SunDrive

SunDrive

Building a sustainable future with the world's most efficient solar cell

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Challenge

Sustainable Development Goals

Company-hero-image

SunDrive

SunDrive

Building a sustainable future with the world's most efficient solar cell

View website

Challenge

Sustainable Development Goals

Company-hero-image

Leaders

Vincent Allen

Co-Founder and CTO

Vince started SunDrive with Dave during his PhD at the world-renowned solar research school at UNSW (inventor of today’s commercial solar technology). He has previously worked as an engineer at REC and BP. Now as the technical founder, Vince’s role is to oversee SunDrive’s technical operations and bring out the true potential of its engineers.

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Natalie Malligan

CEO

Natalie Malligan is the CEO of SunDrive Solar, having first joined as COO in 2023. She brings extensive experience in scaling start-ups and global businesses, including leadership roles at Uber, a private equity–backed healthcare company, and a VC-backed proptech start-up. Natalie began her career at Bain & Company and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

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Vincent Allen

Co-Founder and CTO

Vince started SunDrive with Dave during his PhD at the world-renowned solar research school at UNSW (inventor of today’s commercial solar technology). He has previously worked as an engineer at REC and BP. Now as the technical founder, Vince’s role is to oversee SunDrive’s technical operations and bring out the true potential of its engineers.

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Founders

Natalie Malligan

CEO

Natalie Malligan is the CEO of SunDrive Solar, having first joined as COO in 2023. She brings extensive experience in scaling start-ups and global businesses, including leadership roles at Uber, a private equity–backed healthcare company, and a VC-backed proptech start-up. Natalie began her career at Bain & Company and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

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Why it matters

Solar energy is pivotal for a green future but is limited by material availability

Every hour there is enough energy from the Sun to power the entire world for a year. Maximising the potential of this near unlimited energy source will play a defining role in solving the greatest challenge of our time. However, current solar cells already consume 20% of the world’s silver and will need 2-3 times more silver if efficiency is to improve. This is unsustainable to meet growing demand.

How it works

SunDrive is creating the next generation of solar cells that use copper

SunDrive is creating unique solutions to reduce the cost of high-efficiency solar cells, whilst enhancing their performance and sustainability by utilising more abundant materials like copper. Copper is cheaper and 1000 times more abundant than silver and SunDrive’s copper plate has achieved more effective conductivity with reduced losses. SunDrive’s solar cell also has a higher density of electrode lines such that more energy can be absorbed with less space.

Why it matters

Solar energy is pivotal for a green future but is limited by material availability

Every hour there is enough energy from the Sun to power the entire world for a year. Maximising the potential of this near unlimited energy source will play a defining role in solving the greatest challenge of our time. However, current solar cells already consume 20% of the world’s silver and will need 2-3 times more silver if efficiency is to improve. This is unsustainable to meet growing demand.

How it works

SunDrive is creating the next generation of solar cells that use copper

SunDrive is creating unique solutions to reduce the cost of high-efficiency solar cells, whilst enhancing their performance and sustainability by utilising more abundant materials like copper. Copper is cheaper and 1000 times more abundant than silver and SunDrive’s copper plate has achieved more effective conductivity with reduced losses. SunDrive’s solar cell also has a higher density of electrode lines such that more energy can be absorbed with less space.

The WOW factor

The Wow Factor

What started as a PhD project with experiments being done in a founder’s garage, has now led to SunDrive fabricating the world’s most efficient silicon solar cells. In doing so, SunDrive is improving solar panel uptake by driving down costs and transforming solar energy as we know it.

The WOW factor

The Wow Factor

What started as a PhD project with experiments being done in a founder’s garage, has now led to SunDrive fabricating the world’s most efficient silicon solar cells. In doing so, SunDrive is improving solar panel uptake by driving down costs and transforming solar energy as we know it.

Investment Team

Bill Bartee

Managing Partner

Investment Team

Bill Bartee

Managing Partner

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SunDrive, the start-up hoping to replace expensive silver elements in solar cells with cheaper copper, has drawn the support of heavyweight investors as it raises $21m in new funding.

The Australian

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Australia’s Sundrive claims new solar cell efficiency milestone

Renew Economy

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Australian technology start-up creates world's most efficient solar cell while replacing silver with copper

ABC News

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"

SunDrive, the start-up hoping to replace expensive silver elements in solar cells with cheaper copper, has drawn the support of heavyweight investors as it raises $21m in new funding.

The Australian

"
"

Australia’s Sundrive claims new solar cell efficiency milestone

Renew Economy

"
"

Australian technology start-up creates world's most efficient solar cell while replacing silver with copper

ABC News

"

Co-investors

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